Acura has been missing a critical piece of what every vehicle
manufacturer wants: an entry in every market segment.

And while you probably won't see an Acura pickup anytime soon, the
public is enjoying the company's first stab at the still-hot SUV market.
The MDX is garnering plenty of acclaim by the automotive press amidst a
sea of extremely advanced competitors.

OUTSIDE - Like many of Acura's products (the CL is the exception),
the MDX's look is somewhat plain. It's elegant, but save for the
five-point grille and wraparound headlights, provokes few visual
double-takes while out on the road. The clean, angular lines down the
sides and across the hood are the only styling cues keeping it from
being completely slab-sided. And while it's no wind-cheater with a 0.36
coefficient of drag, it's still the slipperiest design in its class.
Large, vertically-placed taillights are the focal point of the rear end,
which features a swing-up tailgate that opens a sizable amount of cargo
space. Acura focused on stiffness when designing the MDX's body
structure. Job-specific body trusses and longitudinal rails are
fortified by eight box-section crossmembers placed at critical areas
along the platform. The integrated roof rack, standard on Touring models
and optional on others, is designed to hold up to 150 pounds of gear.

INSIDE - Like many upscale vehicles of today, the focal point of
MDX's interior is a large multi-display screen that houses the
ventilation controls, a trip computer and an optional DVD-based
navigation system. A unique aspect of its inside is the clever use of
packaging space that allows it to offer a third-row bench seat. It's a
two-across chair that is best suited for children. When not in use,
however, either side of the 50/50 split seat, or all of it, can be
folded flat so it is flush with the floor. Anyone who's had to wrestle
with flipping a third-row set of SUV seats knows what this usually
entails. A convenient walk-in feature operates by lifting a lever at the
center-seat base, which slides the seat forward and tilts the backrest
so access to the rearmost seat is made easier. The front seats are wide,
comfortable and covered in leather as standard equipment. The usual
power everything and a booming stereo system come at no extra charge.

ON THE ROAD - Underhood is a 3.5-liter V6 engine, a corporate motor
shared with many of the other Honda/Acura products. It uses dual
overhead camshafts that operate with variable valve timing, a dual-path
intake system and free-flowing exhaust to produce 240 horsepower and 245
lb-ft of torque. Its all-aluminum design keeps it lightweight, and its
deep-skirt configuration and forged steel crankshaft work well to limit
noise, vibration and harshness, and to increase durability. An advanced
five-speed automatic transmission is standard, while the MDX's standard
4-wheel drive system is one of the most advanced in the industry. It is
designed to switch between 2WD and all-wheel drive as needed. While
cruising in normal even-throttle mode, MDX operates as a fuel-efficient
front-drive vehicle. But step on the gas and power is automatically
routed rearward at a rate of up to 55 percent.

BEHIND THE WHEEL - The MDX has lots of ground clearance although
it's clearly more of a car than a truck. The front suspension, engine,
transfer case and steering gear are all supported by a subframe
assembly. All this is isolated from the cabin by thick rubber mounts and
dynamic dampers, so the ride is smooth and quiet, yet stiff and durable.
MacPherson struts make up the front unit, with a rear multi-link layout.
There is over seven inches of wheel travel up front and nearly five
inches in back, which is enough to give it moderate off-road
capabilities. The wide track keeps it flat and stable on the road, while
its speed-sensitive power rack-and-pinion steering system gives quick
response and lots of road feel. The four-wheel disc bakes are enhanced
with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) as standard equipment.